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Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
OffSec · professional
OSWAOffensive Security Web Assessor
Offensive Security Web Assessor
Official pageOffSec · expert
OSWEOffensive Security Web Expert
Advanced web application exploitation — whitebox review, vulnerability chain construction.
Official pageComparing
OffSecOSWA
OffSecOSWE
› Cost
Exam fee
OSWA$1,649
OSWE$1,699
Exam fee
$1,649
$1,699
Annual maintenance fee
OSWA—
OSWE—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
OSWA$1,649
OSWE$1,699
3-year cost of ownership
$1,649
$1,699
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
OSWALab points-based with report
OSWELab points-based (varies — typically 60+/100 with report)
Pass mark
Lab points-based with report
Lab points-based (varies — typically 60+/100 with report)
Retake policy
OSWA$249 fee · 0d wait
OSWE$249 fee · 0d wait
Retake policy
$249 fee · 0d wait
$249 fee · 0d wait
Study time
OSWA150–300 hrs
OSWE300–500 hrs
Study time
150–300 hrs
300–500 hrs
Validity
OSWA3 yrs
OSWE3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
OSWA—
OSWE30 CPEs
CPE / yr
—
30 CPEs
Delivery
OSWAonline proctored
OSWEpractical lab
Delivery
online proctored
practical lab
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
OSWA$100K – $150K
OSWE$130K – $195K
Range
$100K – $150K
$130K – $195K
Median
OSWA$120,000
OSWE$155,000
Median
$120,000
$155,000
Premium %
OSWA—
OSWE—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
OSWAJunior to mid web pentester, US, 1-3 years.
OSWESenior web/app pentester, US, 4-7 years.
Role context
Junior to mid web pentester, US, 1-3 years.
Senior web/app pentester, US, 4-7 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
OSWA7.0
OSWE8.5
Schema quality
7.0
8.5
Practice evidence
OSWA8.5
OSWE9.5
Practice evidence
8.5
9.5
Maintenance
OSWA7.5
OSWE7.0
Maintenance
7.5
7.0
Market recognition
OSWA5.5
OSWE7.5
Market recognition
5.5
7.5
Average
OSWA7.1
OSWE8.1
Average
7.1
8.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
OSWAGlobal
OSWEGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
OSWA—
OSWE—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
OSWA—
OSWE—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
OSWA—
OSWE3,000
Holders worldwide
—
3,000
Current version
OSWAWEB-200 (2024) (2024-04)
OSWEWEB-300 (2024) (2024-01)
Current version
WEB-200 (2024) (2024-04)
WEB-300 (2024) (2024-01)
› Domain coverage
A24Exposure Management & Attack Surface
OSWA·
OSWE○ touched
A24Exposure Management & Attack Surface
·
○ touched
A4Application Security
OSWA● core
OSWE● core
A4Application Security
● core
● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
OSWA● core
OSWE● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
● core
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.